Nillumbik U3A foodies in the news
The whole of the front page of Nillumbik U3A’s June 2015 newsletter was devoted to selected U3A members who are also active in the local food movement! Thank you, Anne Kane (the editor of the U3A newsletter)! There are pictures of Duang Tengtrirat, Evan Gellert, Sabi Buehler, Robyn Currie and yours truly, together with pen portraits of each. So, for example:
| Duang Tengtrirat Duang is a well known local caterer who was one of the cooks at the 2015 March Harvest Feast, a major annual event held at Eltham High School. She also supplies vegetables for sale at the Little Organic Shop in Hurstbridge. |
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| Evan Gellert Evan is a volunteer at the heritage apple orchards at Petty’s Orchard in Templestowe. He is also one of the people who mans the information stall at Eltham Farmers’ Market. |
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| Robyn Currie Robyn has been a stalwart of many local food organisations over the years. This has included maintaining a calendar of local food events for LFC, establishing the planter box outside of Nillumbik Health and organising events for North East Ranges Permaculture. |
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| Sabi Buehler Sabi (on the right of the picture) is an active participant in the local food swaps, including Hurstbridge and Greensborough. She has written an article on food foraging for this website. |
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It would be great to have some more pen portraits for our website. So, if you are doing something active in the food field and want to be famous (well, on our website), please email us with a sentence or two plus picture. Ditto if you would like to nominate someone else for inclusion.
One of the U3A courses starting 21st July is called Introduction to Varietal Wines, facilitated by Karen Coulston (karen.coulston@bigpond.com, 9436 2264 or 0417 529181). Here is the blurb: “This course will be a tasty, educational blend of art and science. We will discuss different wine styles and how they are made. Each week we will share four bottles and participants will be rostered, under Karen’s direction, to bring the wines.
The Stringybark Sustainability Festival needs you
The Stringybark Sustainability Festival will be held on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October at Rowville. One of the organisers, Giuliano Marcon, has written in to say that they are looking for speakers on either a) food preserving or b) native bees. If interested, contact Giuliano by phone (9298 8806) or email, or fill in their expression of interest form.
New events
Backyard chooks for beginners
What: Tutor: Felicity Gordon. Learn the basics of backyard chicken keeping. This workshop will cover the characteristics of different breeds (in order to make a selection that suits your setting and needs) as well as the housing and care of chickens. Participants will leave with the knowledge and confidence to begin keeping chickens and producing their own free range eggs. This workshop would suit those who would like to start keeping chickens and who are keen to learn the basics. Please wear covered shoes and dress for the outdoors – including a hat.
When: Friday, 3rd July, 10am-midday.
Where: Edendale.
Cost: $25.
Grow your own – on a shoestring
What: Maria, from My Green Garden, will show you how to utilise things you may already have and learn some clever techniques to save money including: potting mixes, pest control, fertilisers, seed sowing, seasonal plant propagation, ‘nanna-technology’ and re-purposing household objects for use in the garden.
When: Tuesday, 21st July, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Where: Diamond Valley Library.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Dione Flegg by phone (9434 3809) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Upcoming events from previous LFC News
Over the next week
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Over the next month
- Backyard chooks for beginners: Friday, 3rd July, 10am-midday.
- Seed saving: Wednesday, 8th July, 10am-midday.
- Pasta making: Tuesday, 14th July, 11.30am-12.30pm.
- Change makers: Wednesday, 15th July, 6-9pm.
- Sourdough bread making: Saturday, 18th July, 10am-3pm.
- Soil matters: Saturday, 18th July, 2pm.
- Grow your own – on a shoestring: Tuesday, 21st July, 11.30am-12.30pm.